From Gamer to Saint: The Inspiring Story of Carlo Acutis

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Recently, the Catholic Church witnessed a truly historic moment with the canonization of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati as saints during a Mass at St. Peter’s Square before an estimated 70,000-80,000 people.

This joyous occasion brought us our first millennial saint and represents a powerful witness to living faithfully in the digital age.

A Digital Saint for Our Times

Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia at just 15 years old in 2006, has been known in the Catholic Church as “God’s influencer” for harnessing technology to spread the word about miracles.

Born in London in 1991 to Italian parents and raised in Milan, Carlo’s brief but extraordinary life has captured the hearts of Catholics worldwide, particularly young people who see in him a relatable model of holiness for the digital age.

What made Carlo truly remarkable was his ability to combine cutting-edge technology with profound Catholic devotion.

At a time when creating sophisticated websites required professional expertise, this teenage computer programmer developed a comprehensive multilingual website documenting Eucharistic miracles from around the world. His digital catalog became an invaluable resource for Catholics seeking to deepen their understanding of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

The Heart of a Saint

Despite his technical prowess, Carlo’s spirituality remained refreshingly simple and profound. From age seven, he attended daily Mass whenever possible and spent regular time in Eucharistic adoration.

He famously said, “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven,” and his deep love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament became the driving force of his life.

Carlo told his mother: “To always be united to Jesus: This is my life plan”, and he lived this commitment fully. His witness was so powerful that it inspired his own parents to return to practicing the Catholic faith and led his Hindu au pair to convert and be baptized.

Carlo understood that true holiness wasn’t about extraordinary mystical experiences but about faithfully living out one’s Catholic faith in ordinary circumstances. He prayed the Rosary daily, showed extraordinary compassion for the poor and marginalized, and maintained a cheerful, approachable demeanor that drew others to Christ.

The Path to Sainthood

The church’s sainthood process normally requires that candidates have two miracles attributed to them, with each reported supernatural occurrence requiring in-depth examination.

St. Carlo’s first miracle involved the healing of a Brazilian boy with a rare pancreatic disorder, leading to his beatification in 2020.

The second miracle attributed to St. Carlo relates to the reported healing of a girl from Costa Rica who had suffered a head trauma after falling from her bicycle in Florence, Italy, where she was studying. Her mother said she prayed for her daughter’s recovery at the tomb of Acutis in Assisi.

A Saint for Young People

Carlo Acutis’ lightning-fast rise is a confluence between God’s will and the needs of the Catholic Church in this particular era. He is a saint for young people, just at the time that the church is trying to bring more of Generation Z to Mass.

His canonization comes at a time when surveys show rising interest in Catholicism among young people, particularly Generation Z.

What makes Saint Carlo so appealing to young Catholics is his relatability. The British-born Italian teenager, who loved video-gaming, is often depicted wearing jeans and trainers, making him a relatable figure to a new generation of Catholics.

His tomb in Assisi displays him in casual clothes—jeans, a tracksuit, and Nike sneakers—symbolizing that sanctity is achievable in our everyday lives.

A Model for Digital Evangelization

For Catholic ministries engaged in digital evangelization—whether through YouTube channels, websites, podcasts, or social media—Saint Carlo Acutis stands as our patron and guide. He shows us that online apostolates can be genuine works of evangelization when they flow from deep prayer and authentic devotion to Christ.

As we celebrate this historic canonization, we invite you to join us in praying a “Prayer to St. Carlo Acutis” by clicking on the link below or by visiting our website or YouTube channel.

Through his intercession, may we follow his example by using whatever talents and opportunities we have to draw others closer to Jesus and spread the beauty and truth of our Catholic faith throughout the world.

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